90 day personal makeover update

Over the last 3+ weeks I have been steadily trying to improve some personal and professional habits. You can check up on my progress here. It is often said that it takes 21 days to create a new habit. Some of the things I have been trying to change have definitely evolved to the point where my "new normal" requires that they get done or I feel off and out of sorts. Certainly my morning routine fits that description. There are other areas where I am still struggling to gain some consistent traction.

I remember reading in Darren Hardy's book  The Compound Effect that bookending your day with good habits is vitally important. After the last three weeks I can attest to that 1000%. What I do when I first wake up and what I do before I go to sleep have more impact on my quality of life, effectiveness and general wellbeing than anything else I do during the day. As a further measure of accountability (I need you guys checking up on me) here are my routines for morning and evening.

Morning

• Wake up between 5 and 5:30 am, preferably before the alarm clock goes off
• Change into workout clothes and spend 30-60 minutes in scripture reading and prayer.
• Leave for a 2-5 mile run around 6:30
• Cool off and eat a good breakfast, hang out with the munchkins, make them breakfast
• By 8:00 showered and ready to go out the door, pray with Josie before I leave and get to the office a little before 8:30.

Evening

• Plan the next day, go through the commitments I made to myself during Sunday evening planning and decide where I will spend time to meet those commitments. Email that agenda to Josie and the staff at the office.
• Evaluate how things went during the day. What were my big wins and my "fails." I keep track of these daily entries in Evernote.
• Make sure all my meals are logged in MyNetDiary
• Read in bed, usually on my iPad or Kindle

The last two days have driven home just how important this routine has become to me. Sunday night I started getting sick and by Monday afternoon I was really feeling terrible. More than the unproductive time in the office (I can always make that up) missing my regular routine Monday night, Tuesday morning, Tuesday night and Wednesday morning was really, really difficult. That made me realize that even though I was still functional while I was sick (I didn't miss work, I didn't cancel any appointments, things still went out the door) I wasn't truly effective. And what was it that I didn't do that made me ineffective? I didn't start and end my days properly.

Here's a wake up call. If you don't have an established routine of positive habits to bookend your days you may be as ineffective as I was EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE. I'm a convert. I'm sure I'll fall of the wagon now and again, but when I do I will have a very real sense of just how much that lack of discipline is costing me and those I love.

I wish I could recount every positive thing that has happened over the last three weeks, but it would take a long time. Here are some highlights.

• I've received spiritual direction and inspiration to solve some issues I've been seeking answers to for a while now.
• I've lost 12 pounds while logging 65 miles in morning runs and have radically changed my eating habits.
• I've completed 4 books that have directly resulted in positive personal or business changes.
• A new source of revenue and potentially a whole new business opportunity has opened up.
• I've received countless encouraging emails, twitter messages and facebook posts deepening my relationships with friends and colleagues.

The most encouraging part for me is that I feel like I'm just getting started. I know that many of the habits I have set out to change won't pay dividends for months and years to come, and I'm excited about that. Thanks to all of you who have sent me an encouraging word. I really appreciate your love and support.

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